Electrical mid-span spacer connector



K R. PQBRIDGES ELECTRICAL MID-SPAN SPACER CONNECTOR A ril 11, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 3, 1958 FIG. I.

April 11, 1961 R. P. BRIDGES ELECTRICAL MID-SPAN SPACER CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3, 1958 FIG .7.

FIG .4.

Unite ELECTRICAL MID-SPAN SPACER CONNECTOR Ronald I; Bridges, Centralia, Mo., assignor to A. B. 'Chance Company, Centralia, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed July '3, 1958, Ser. No. 746,409

20 Claims. (Cl. 174-145) This invention relates to an electrical connector and more particularly to a mid-span spacer connector for interconnecting a plurality of electrical tap conductors to a plurality of electrical line conductors.

Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of an electrical connector which can be conveniently utilized to interconnect tap conductors to a plurality of line conductors at any selected point along a span of line conductors, thereby avoiding the necessity of installing poles at points where service drops are needed; the provision of such an electrical connector which permits increased pole spacing; the provision of a connector of the class described which not only provides means for spacing line conductors but also for connecting a number of tap conductors constituting one or two service line drops to the line conductors; and the provision of a mid-span spacer connector which effectively and permanently interconnects tap conductors to line conductors and which provides strain relief for the tap conductors and weather protection for both tap and line conductors.

Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in Fig. 4 is an elevation of the Fig. 2 connector as viewed from the left of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of an electrical connector of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the Fig. 5 connector as viewed from the left of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan of another embodiment of an electrical connector of the present invention; and,

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the Fig. 7 connector as viewed from the left of Fig. 7.

Corresponding reference characters indicate correspond ing parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1-4; three electrical line conductors L, such as would constitute a. a secondary line, are shown spanning the distancebetween. two poles P and secured thereto by means of secondary racks or brackets B. A set of tap conductors H, such as would constitute a service linedrop to a house,'are interconnected at a position intermediate poles P by an electrical connector of the present invention generally indicated at reference character C. Electrical connector C includes an elongate member or rod 1'ofinsulating material, such as resin-impregnated fiber glass, treated wood, etc., and three identical connector clamping units 30f electrically conductivemetahsuch ascast alur'ninum, e'tc.,

atent ice aflixed in spaced-apart relationship along the length of rod 1. The middle connector clamping unit 3 is shown partly in section in Fig. 2. Each of units 3 comprises a pair of contoured or grooved jaws 5 and 7 of electrically conductive metal held together in clamping relationship by bolt 9, the rectangular shank of which is seated in a slot 8, and a nut 10. Jaw 5 is integrally formed as a part of an L-shaped body portion 11, 'one leg of which is an extension 13 .constituting a curved guide for tap conductor H.

Extension or guide .13 is generally O-shaped in cross section and includes outwardly flared lips 15. This guide functions to train the tap conductor H through a 90 transition along a path toward a groove 17 in the undersurface of jaw 5. This groove 17, together with a mating or opposing groove or channel 19 in jaw 7, clampsthe end of tap conductor H, thereby mechanically and electrically connecting conductor H to connector 3. A second groove line conductor L is thereby clamped to connector 3.. I aw 7 is maintained in an interlockedaligned or registering position relative to jaw 5 by means offingers 25 and 7 which extend upwardly into recesses 29 and 31, respectively of the connector body 11.

Protection against weather is provided for line conductor L by means of an overhanging edge-33 of the connector body portion 11, which also includes another overhanging edge portion 35 protecting part of the section of tap connector H encompassedby connector 3. Longitudinalrnovernent of jaw 7 relative to jaw 5 isrestricted by stops constituted by the forward ends of overhanging portions 33 and 35 of the body portion 11 and a downwardly depending finger 36 at the outerend of jaw 5.

It will be noted that the curved guide'13 not only func tions to provide strain relief for tap conductor H in its 90 transition, but also serves as a weather-protective hood for the section of the tap conductor H which it partially surrounds. Each connector 3 also includes a collared aperture 37 which receives rod land is secured thereto by means of metal drive pins 39.

Connector C of Figs. 1-4 is particularly convenient for interconnecting one set of tap conductors H to secondary line conductors L, butthere are frequent requirements for some means to interconnect two service line drops, each constituting threetap conductors H on opposite sides of line conductors L. Two alternate embodiments of the electrical connector of the present invention which will meet this need are illustrated in Figs. 5-8. In the Figs. 5, 6 embodiment, each of the connecting clamping units includes an X-shaped body portion (41 which includes two jaws 5 on the undersurface of the opposite endsofone of the body cross members. These jaws 5 and cooperating jaws 7, as in'the' Figs. 1-4 connector, each clamp the e ndof a tap conductor H to connector body 41*, 'therebyf; electrically and mechanically interconnecting them to line conductor L which is clamp- .ingly engaged" by the other parallel grooves 21 and 23 of jaws Sand 7. The other crossrnernberof body porweather protection therefor.

rtain respects from that ofiFigs. 5,K6 .'1

I, opposite ends thereof 'to relieve b'ending'strain on the respective ,tap conductors? H', ffas wellfasftof provide Theconnector embodiment of Figs. 7,,f8 diif ment; illustrated in the lattergtwofigures, th

posite directions, while in Figs. 7, 8 they face in the same general direction. A T-shaped body portion for the connector clamping units is utilized in this second alternate embodiment. The undersurface of the stem or leg of body portion 43 includes three parallel grooves; a central groove 45 for line conductor L running the length of the leg of body portion 43 and two shorter grooves 47 spaced on opposite sides of groove 45 to accommodate the two tap conductors H. A jaw 51 having three parallel grooves 49 mates with the end part of the leg of body portion 43, which constitutes an upper jaw. The opposite ends of the arms of body portion 43 comprise two curved guides 13.

It will be understood that the connectors of the present invention may include more or less than three spaced connector clamp units depending on the type of electrical service and numbers of sets of line and tap conductors to be interconnected. Also, it will be noted that twisted tap conductors H, such as triplex cable, instead of open wire tap conductors H as illustrated may be interconnected by these connectors of the present invention. The expression mid-span spacer connector is used to designate an electrical connector of the present invention when utilized to interconnect tap conductors at any point on a span of line conductors intermediate the line conductor supports.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An electrical connector for interconnecting a plurality of electrical tap conductors to a continuous span of electrical line conductors, comprising an elongate insulating member, and a plurality of spaced connector clamping units affixed to said elongate insulating member, each of said units comprising jaws adapted to directly engage and electrically contact a bare portion of one continuous line conductor intermediate the ends of said span and the end of at least one tap conductor, each of said units including a curved guide for said tap conductor adapted partially to surround said tap conductor, support to hold said connector in operative mounted position being entirely supplied by its direct engagement with said ocntinuous span of electrical line conductors, whereby said continuous span of electrical conductors may be tapped rnidspan by said electrical connector.

2. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 in which said curved guide is integral with one of the jaws 6. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 5 in .which' said guides are C-shaped in cross section, the

openings of which face in the same general direction.

7. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 5 in which said guides are C-shaped in cross section, the openings of which face in generally opposite directions.

8.; A mid-span spacer connector for electrically interconnecting 'a plurality of electrical tap conductors to a plurality of electrical line conductors, comprising an elongate insulating rod, and a plurality of spaced metal connector clamping unitsaffixed to said rod, each'of said in curved paths toward the outer parallel grooves and to units including a body portion having at least two parallel grooves to receive the conductors being joined and an extension projecting generally at right angles to the direction of said grooves, said extension comprising a curved guide adapted to partially surround a section of the tap conductor and to train it in a curved path toward one of said parallel grooves, and a movable jaw having at least two parallel grooves, one of said grooves adapted to receive a section of a line conductor and the other adapted to receive the end of a tap conductor, said jaw being movable into opposing registering engagement with the body grooves to thereby clamp said line conductor and the end of said tap conductor to said body portion.

9. A mid-span spacer connector as set forth in claim 8 in which said insulating rod is fiber glass and is circular in cross section.

10. A mid-span spacer connector as set forth in claim 8 in which each of the guides has outwardly flared lips.

11. A mid-span spacer connector as set forth in claim 8 wherein said body portion has an edge adapted to over hang a section of line conductor and constitute a weather protective hood therefor.

12. A mid-span spacer connector as set forth in claim 8 in which each of said units includes a second extension and guide for a second tap conductor projecting laterally from said body portion in a direction generally opposite to that of said first extension, said second guide being adapted partially to surround said second tap conductor and constitute a'weather protective hood therefor.

13. A mid-span spacer connector as set forth in claim 12 in which said guides are O-shaped in cross section, the openings of which face in the same general direction.

14. A mid-span spacer connector as set forth in claim 12 in which said guides are C-shaped in cross section, the openings of which face in generally opposite directions.

15. A mid-span spacer connector for electrically interconnecting a plurality of electrical tap conductors to'a plurality of electrical line conductors, comprising an elongate insulating rod, and a plurality of spaced metal connector clamping units afiixed to said rod, each of said units including an L-shaped body portion having a pair of parallel grooves in the undersurface thereof, one of said grooves running the length of one leg of the L, the other groove having a length less than that of said leg, the other leg comprising a curved guide adapted to partially surround a section of the tap conductor and to train it in a curved path toward said other parallel groove and to constitute a Weather protective hood for said tap conductor section, and a movable jaw having at least two parallel grooves, one of said grooves adapted to receive a section of a line conductor and the other adapted to receive the ends of a tap conductor, said jaw being movable into opposing registering engagement with the body grooves to thereby clamp said line conductor and elongate insulating rod, and a plurality of spaced metal connector clamping units affixed to said rod, each of said units including a T-shaped body, portion having three 1 parallel grooves in the leg of the T, each of the arms of the T comprising a curved guide adapted to partially surround sections of two tap conductors and to train them constitute Weather protective hoods for said respective tap conductor sections, and a movable jaw having three parallel grooves,'the inner groove adapted to receive a section of a line conductorand the other grooves adapted to receive the ends of tap conductors, said jaw being movable into opposing registering engagement with the body grooves to thereby clamp said line conductor and the ends of said tap conductors to said body portion.

18. A mid-span spacer conductor as set forth in claim 17 in which each of the guides has outwardly flared lips.

19. A mid-span spacer connector for electrically interconnecting a plurality of electrical tap conductors to a plurality of electrical line conductors, comprising an elongate insulating rod, and a plurality of spaced metal connector clamping units aflixed to said rod, each of said units including an X-shaped body portion having three parallel grooves in the undersurface of one cross member thereof, one of the grooves running the length of said one cross member, each of the other two grooves being shorter and disposed at opposite ends of said one cross member, the opposite parts of the other cross member each comprising a curved guide adapted to partially surround a section of separate tap conductors to train them in curved paths toward said shorter parallel grooves respectively and to constitute weather protective hoods for said respective tap conductor sections, and a pair of movable jaws each having two parallel grooves, one of said jaw grooves adapted to receive a section of a line conductor and the other adapted to receive the end of one of said tap conductors, said jaws each being movable into opposing registering engagement with the body grooves at said opposite ends of said cross member to thereby clamp said line conductor and the ends of said tap conductors to said body portion.

20. A mid-span spacer connector as .set forth in claim 19 in which each of the guides has outwardly flaring lips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,014,720 Pereyra Jan. 16, 1912 2,000,652 Snyder May 7, 1935 2,139,415 McLachlan Dec. 6, 1938 2,320,155 Papp May 25, 1943 2,320,777 Graham June 1, 1943 2,825,752 Knutz et a1. Mar. 4, 1958 2,868,861 Bither Jan. 13, 1959 

